madlithuanian

We look to be preety much on the same page...

The Steelers will also take someone away from that list I feel. Our options may not be as plentiful as initially thought.

Thank you! My stomach is now settled! I completley get what you're saying. I'm just holding steadfast, right or wrong, to not trusting JA and LS to make good decisions on their hires.

At least as of right now, I may be the sole person holding Smith and JA as big problem that can't be overcome. I refuse to drink Kool Aid right now. Even a watered down glass. I may relent later depending on how things play out. But, all this is fantasyland speculation until the actual hires occur.

I do like Sauders as well for all the reasons you mention. I'm a little mor worried about the defense in all honesty. I kind of think JA will hire the OC with a small blessing from Smith, whereas Smith will hire the DC with a small blessing from JA. But, even with that, I still fear bad decisions could still be made.

I gotcha. You're keeping your displeasure in check! I'm voicing it loud and early! I think Smith has been better than Wanny or Jauron, but I still don't find him good enough. It's not good company to be in. I do reference Smith, since the buck stops at him. I'm also referencing the entire defensive staff from Marinelli to Babitch, et al. I could easily switch my thoughts with the right DC hired and OC hired. But JA and LS have not shown me anything that they'll hire the right guys other than someone who can have a tea party with Smith. My only real hope is that we see improvement on O and D, and one of the coordinators hired is so good, that despite a losing record, they are kept or possibly promoted. That's my one quasi realistic hope for the year. I just fear the Fontes-ian barely making playoffs and keeping this regime around for far too long... We are slowly becoming Detroit I fear. As soone as our Barry Sanders gets too old (Cutler), we're screwed for a decade. And I fear Smith and JA may last long enough to squelch Cutler.

Agreed, stranger things have happened. But do you honestly feel that Smith is the right man for the job?

I love your signature picture!

Yesterday we were told that Smith has the final say in his staff. To me, that seems like he still holds the power. Maybe it's lip service, but until I see otherwise, I'm not going to think otherwise. And really, you're kind of saying we have a lame duck ocach. How healthy is that?

Regarding the Steelers, you make good points, but I still think overall they are a D that generates more pressure. And while their OL stunk...much of the blame I hear (from Pit fans) is that Big Ben holds the ball way too long. Other than that, their O actually looked pretty darn good. Mendenhall ran very well once given the job and Ben through for a ton of yards. Also his fair share of red zone picks. I'm OK saying this year wasn't good. But when you lok at the past x amounts of seasons, the consitency is there. The Colts...yup. But that's the way it works. Bears are considereed to be a running team due to Sayers, Payton and Anderson. Jones was maybe the best since then. You are what your best players are. But, the fact that they are consistent should not be discounted. Pats are Pats. Philly had a rockin' D according to fantasy, at least my league. (and yes, I know that's not the same as the real NFL) They got a ton of picks, sacks, held opponents to low scores. Maybe they gave up yards, but considering Jim Johnson was gone, I thought they did exceptionally well. And they have for many years. I'm glad your glass is half full, because mine isn't even half empty. It's only got drops in it... That may change once the new coordinators are actually hired. But until then, I have zero faith that this inept regime will do the correct thing. You mention in his 2nd year we went to the playoffs. I say la di da. Jauron got us in and so did Wanny. And really, how long ago was that? What exactly makes you think that something will change? The only thing I think that could happen is that Urlacher puts his finger in the damn to improve the D slightly and that Cutler could have the light turn on and rock it. That could happen. But nothing that this staff would do would make that happen. It would solely be on the players. So, maybe they were right all along. It's all on the players. The coaches are complete utter buffoons, so it's up to the players to coach themsleves. Sorry. I'm still pissed off. And I still believe in the Peter Principle. You will only go as high as the low point...and that low point is JA&LS. I don't want to go back to the SB and lose again. I want to win. And I want to win a few.

You're settling nfo. You are trying to rationalize viewing next year. All your points are valid...but also just a stop gap band-aid that we all know how the movie will end. Until Smith and Angelo are gone, and better are put into place...we won' go anywhere real lofty. My bigger fear is that we will improve just enough to retain the clown-ship and get another year. And then maybe even another so-so year and everyone gets re-upped. I'm tired of inconsistency. We have no foundation in anything. We're not good at anything. The Steelers are good on D (hurt this year by losing Polamalu to the Madden curse) The Colts are good on O (Manning, et al) The Pats are solid (on O w/ Brady and on D with always a decent D) Philly are solid on O and more than solid on D Granted, that's only 13% of the league. But that's what i want. That's what the ownership should want/. it appears they don't.

I'm not 100% sure, but I believe a portion goes to the team and a portion to the sharing agreement... Not 100% to the NFL to be distributed. I might be wrong, I'm going off recolection and my mind is currently clouded with vehement anger.

Good deal. Speaking of the Lions, I wonder how much they will improve with Stafford this upcoming season. Could we fall to the cellar? Seems like everyone in our division is improving but us.

History. So far, Smith has basically hired his own yes-men when given the chance. Smith appears so amazingly stubborn, that I see no evidence that he wouldn't interfere w/ Fewell or anyone who dared to veer away too far from his baby. Sorry, I need to actually see something different before I even remotely give anything involving Smith any sliver of a benefit of a doubt. Like i said, I think it will be better. it's hard not to be worse.

Honestly, not to sound like I want to give into the"petulant qb", but the next guy needs to be on the same page at Jay. 100%.

I'd love Zimmer, but I've got to figure the Bengals will re-up him. Especially if they do well.

Isn't it really like choosing death by drowing or death by getting burned alive? One may be alsightly more painless, but the end result is the same.

Sorry, it doesn't make me feel any better about our crew of clowns.

1 - Williams appears to be getting it towards the end. However, was that Willimas getting it, or that we landed Minny at the right time when they weren't all that hungry and got the JV squad from Detroit. I'd like to think it's an upside. 2 - Forte - Loved last year, hated this year. he dropped the injury excuse bomb. I don't like that. Seemed like a stand up guy and now seems like he's one of many excuse guys. I'm concerned. But, I'm willing to give him the benefit of the doubt. 3 - Bennett - Seems OK. Would have like the staff to have given him reps last season. But if he improves next, like he did this past...he could be a decent possession guy. I don't see him as a real breakthrough guy. Just a solid contributor. 3 - Harrison. Scream sot me of bust. Has character issues, did very little this past season, and same into camp like a lump of turd. 4- I've actually always liked Steltz when he plays. He appreas to practice like crud, but seems to do well game time. I'd like this guy to get a legit shot. But I fear this staff will have it's mind made up by signing some other ex-Ram that is now a has-been. 5- Bowman. Like his upside. Injury prone it appears though. 6 - Davis - Love the guy. Needs to be used more often. Big target. 7 - Baldwin - who? Useless. Hanie - not enough to really make a call on. I like his attitude and some of what I've seen in pre-season. I think we still may need a more legit back-up when a real coaching staff is in place and we start to make a run. Roach - decent back-up. Nothing to get too excited about I think.

I think he beats Babitch and Smith. But he'll be too much of a yes-man to have any real impact. He may be able to tweak a few more things, but it probably won't be enough. Bottom line is it starts with the line, and there's nothing that tells me our line will be improved enough.

Bingo.

Sematics Connor. It's virtually the same. He was not retained and should have been.

I fear it really won't. On the O-side I think there is a chance. But it seems very apparent Smith wants a yes-man that would make Ed McMahon blush...

The entire pro football profession is jointly laughing at the McCaskey's and the Bears. Green Bay, Minny and even Detroit fans are giddy that we're doomed for at least one more season. It's just insulting to us fans...

Perfect analysis!